The foreskin is the dermal (skin) shield around the penis. The foreskin is commonly removed in the US and in much of Europe by a surgical procedure called circumcision.http://nymag.com/health/features/60140/ http://www.historyofcircumcision.net/ Circum means around and an incision is a cut.
Some uncircumcised boys are able to pull their foreskin back from the head of their penis as early as age 5. Other boys cannot do so until they undergo puberty, the change from child to adult. Doctors say it is important to wash between the foreskin and the penis daily.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/uncircumcised-penis/AN02045
There is controversy over the medical necessity of removing the foreskin. Some say the presence of the foreskin encourages the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and fungal infections. Others say this is untrue and that the removal of the foreskin causes undue loss of sensitivity in the penis.http://www.circumstitions.com/Mayo.html
There is controversy over the sexual effectiveness of the penis with or without the foreskin. Some women say they never get dry if the foreskin is present. Other women say the look of the foreskin or the possibility that the foreskin is hiding disease or dirt is a turn-off to them. Some women say it is easier to please a man who has an intact foreskin. Some experienced women also point out there are degrees of having a foreskin. Sometimes more of it has been removed and sometimes less.http://nymag.com/health/features/60150/
Jewish and Muslim religious books tell their followers that the foreskin of each baby boy must be removed as an act of the parents' faith in God. Some people who are against circumcision say that these religions require the removal of the foreskin because they believe this will discourage boys from masterbation. They say this discouragement is ineffective. There is little agreement on either of these points between religious people whose religions require circumcision and people who do not share or understand these religious requirements.http://www.circumstitions.com/Mayo.html